England vs. Croatia: Head-to-head record and past meetings

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 12

England wins: 7

Draws: 2

Croatia wins: 3

Frequent foes in both major tournaments and the preliminary stages of such competitions, England and Croatia went to battle for the 12th time at the 2026 World Cup, and it was the Three Lions that recorded a 4-2 win in the group-stage fixture.

England hold the historical edge over their Chequered counterparts, having managed seven wins compared to just three for Croatia, although successes for the latter were arguably the most significant.

A little under eight years ago, England's dreams of reaching a first World Cup final since 1966 were devastatingly dashed by Zlatko Dalic's side, as Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic cancelled out a Kieran Trippier free kick in a 2-1 semi-final win.

England supporters had already been forced to witness one heartbreaking defeat to Croatia, who denied the Three Lions a place at Euro 2008 courtesy of a 3-2 victory at Wembley, a fixture Scott Carson cannot banish to the back of his mind quickly enough.

However, more recent meetings have tended to go in England's favour, as the Three Lions have won three and drawn one of their last four head-to-heads, including a 1-0 Euro 2020 victory thanks to a Raheem Sterling strike.

Gareth Southgate also oversaw a win and a draw against the Chequered Ones during the 2018 Nations League, thus earning England an immediate slice of revenge following their World Cup dismay.

Those of an Arsenal persuasion will also remember Theo Walcott's hat-trick for England in a 4-1 World Cup Qualifying victory in 2008, one year before Fabio Capello's men roared to a 5-1 triumph at Wembley.

Frank Lampard netted twice that day and is the leading scorer in this particular battle with five goals, one of which also came in England's 4-2 Euro 2004 success over the Chequered Ones.